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Poll: Romney slipping in South Carolina, holds just 2 point lead over Gingrich
thehill.com/blogs ^ | 1/12/2012 | Justin Sink

Posted on 01/12/2012 7:12:19 AM PST by TBBT

Despite a historic sweep of the first two nominating contests in the GOP field, Mitt Romney holds just a two percentage point lead in South Carolina, his smallest lead of 2012.

Romney is the favorite of 23 percent of South Carolina voters, narrowly edging Newt Gingrich's 21 percent, according to the latest poll from Insider Advantage. Rick Santorum pulls 14 percent of Palmetto state voters, while Ron Paul rounds out the top four with 13 percent. Jon Huntsman's seven percent and Rick Perry's five percent trail the pack.

The numbers could indicate that Gingrich's aggressive strategy - which has included controversial attacks on Mitt Romney's business and abortion records - is gaining him traction by hurting the GOP frontrunner.

In the three other major South Carolina polls completed in the new year, Romney was earning 37 percent, 27 percent, and 30 percent, according to Real Clear Politics - meaning his 23 percent in the latest poll marks a precipitous decline.

Gingrich, meanwhile, has maintained a steady band of support between 18 and 23 percent.

The poll may also signal the beginning of the end of the Santorum boomlet, who has fallen 10 percentage points from a Rasmussen poll released just after his near-win in the Iowa caucuses. That too could help Gingrich, who hopes conservatives in South Carolina will rally around his campaign as an alternative to Romney.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: 2012; gingrich; poll; romney; southcarolina
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To: Antoninus

Romney is up very big in Fla, FYI. That’s just a fact.


41 posted on 01/12/2012 9:51:53 AM PST by CitizenReporter
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To: rbmillerjr

Right. If she doesn’t, knowing everything she knows about Romney, including what we DON’T know about his tax returns ...then she’s nothing but a FOX shill like the rest of them.

It’s all so disgusting how bought his country has become. They’re ALL in the tank — either by faking their support and going to to writing books and media appearances, or getting their 15 mins of media attention.

I’m waiting for the TRUE patriots to come on the scene. Maybe it will never happen. If it doesn’t, then we’ll just sit back and watch it all fall apart I guess.

In the meantime, GO NEWT!!!!!!!!!!!!


42 posted on 01/12/2012 9:57:04 AM PST by LibsRJerks
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To: Salvation

If the polls show Gingrich close to Romney near election day, I think the supporters of Perry and Santorum should consider ensuring that Romney loses by redirecting their support to Gingrich. Just do it in SC, to make the point that Romney’s not “inevitable,” but rather that there’s a solid conservative core that wants a different candidate.

Then, following SC, particularly if Perry drops out, and with Romney taken down several pegs, possibly Santorum and Gingrich would each have a chance in Florida.

My main problem with this is that of the three (Gingrich, Santorum, Perry), Gingrich is the one I like the least, but whatever it takes....


43 posted on 01/12/2012 10:07:59 AM PST by Norseman (Defund the Left-Completely!)
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To: Antoninus

Sounds nice but SC is an open primary so all the dead and alive dems and independents will vote for him.SC will undivide and pick Santorum or Gingrich. Then if one of them ties with Romney we need to know if the GOP/Romney bought the Fla. Governors endorsement.The tea party needs to step up and emdorse in SC but urgently FLA.


44 posted on 01/12/2012 10:09:04 AM PST by Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!
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To: Antoninus

Sounds nice but SC is an open primary so all the dead and alive dems and independents will vote for him.SC will undivide and pick Santorum or Gingrich. Then if one of them ties with Romney we need to know if the GOP/Romney bought the Fla. Governors endorsement.The tea party needs to step up and endorse in SC but urgently FLA.


45 posted on 01/12/2012 10:09:27 AM PST by Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!
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To: TBBT

Go Newt Go!


46 posted on 01/12/2012 10:34:18 AM PST by Tribune7 (Vote Perry)
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To: TBBT

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/election/2012/01/12/romney-lead-narrows-in-s-c-widens-in-fla-polls/

I also just saw an article the the SC tea party endorses Paul. What the hell?
Gov. Rick Scott (Fla) was endorsing Perry but supposedly is now not endorsing any one.

http://htpolitics.com/2012/01/04/rick-scott-still-not-endorsing-presidential-candidate/

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60762.html


47 posted on 01/12/2012 10:34:21 AM PST by Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!
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To: CitizenReporter
Romney is up very big in Fla, FYI. That’s just a fact.

Yes. It's a "fact" according to polls. But polls mean nothing. Let's see what happens on election day.
48 posted on 01/12/2012 10:51:40 AM PST by Antoninus (Defeat Romney--Defeat Obama.)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/bingham-gingrich-endorsement-southcarolina/2012/01/02/id/422792

This man carries more weight in SC than sell-out DeMint.

S.C. Majority Leader Endorses Newt Gingrich
Monday, 02 Jan 2012 06:30 PM

Kenny Bingham, South Carolina’s House Majority Leader, announced he is endorsing former House Speaker Gingrich in his run for the White House.

Bingham is among South Carolina’s rising GOP stars and is considered one of the most fiscally and socially conservative members of the state House He plans to campaign throughout the state for Gingrich, his office said in a press release.

Bingham said he “was glad to join the team and believes that Newt’s dedicated leadership can help rebuild this country. It will take bold leadership, new ideas and the ability to work within the system while simultaneously and drastically transforming it. I believe that Newt Gingrich is the right person for this critical time in our nation.”

Gingrich said that he was “humbled and honored by Kenny’s support. He is a voice for cutting taxes and responsible spending, and understands that we are in a perilous juncture in the history of our country. Now is the time for bold reform of the tax code, regulation and our energy policies to create jobs and economic growth, not timid changes that will do little to create jobs and buy into President Obama’s rhetoric of class warfare.”


49 posted on 01/12/2012 12:06:04 PM PST by NKP_Vet (creep.)
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To: TBBT
Newt isn't slipping in SC, he is getting his numbers back. A few days ago he was down to 18(right after Iowa)and now he is back up to within 2 points of mr. good hair. Romney is the one who is slipping he was at 31% in SC, now down to 23.

Liberals will try to spin anything in order to make their chosen one look good.

50 posted on 01/12/2012 12:14:01 PM PST by calex59
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To: Absolutely Nobama; afraidfortherepublic; AmericanInTokyo; American Constitutionalist; Antoninus; ...
Allow me to be the first to predict a Romney third place finish in SC....



Santorum for President ping. Let me know if you want on or off the list.

Top 10 Reasons why Conservatives should support Santorum

16 Reasons Why Mitt Romney Would Be a Really, Really Bad President


51 posted on 01/12/2012 12:21:34 PM PST by Antoninus (Defeat Romney--Defeat Obama.)
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To: TBBT

Rick Santorum Interview with S.E. Cupp (starts about 6 minutes into video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbBIusiRdGg

Santorum stays on message while Perry and Newt flail about over their “attack on capitalism”. The media will play both in a negative light that will domintate the news cycle until the SC primary...to help boost Romney in the south.


52 posted on 01/12/2012 12:25:36 PM PST by RasterMaster ("Towering genius disdains a beaten path." - Abraham Lincoln)
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To: TBBT
Might these numbers be real?

Might be, but I wouldn't bet the ranch on them. Insider Advantage is near the bottom of the list in Nate Silver's study of pollster accuracy.

53 posted on 01/12/2012 12:29:19 PM PST by freespirited
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To: rbmillerjr

Sarah Palin referencing Todd Palin’s endorsement of Newt:

“The first dude went ROGUE!”

Sarah Palin was quoted as saying that when asked about her husband’s endorsement. I think she was saying just because her husband endorses Newt doesn’t mean she’s in lock-step with him to also provide an endorsement. Newt shouldn’t expect any endorsements from Sarah anytime soon.


54 posted on 01/12/2012 12:32:43 PM PST by RasterMaster ("Towering genius disdains a beaten path." - Abraham Lincoln)
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To: RasterMaster

“The first dude went ROGUE!”

That wordy analysis just to say that you don’t like Gingrich? lmao.

You are reading too much into “the first dude went rogue”

It may mean nothing but a cute line. It may mean she will endorse Gingrich a few days before the election. It many mean she won’t...bottom line is you don’t know.

I think Palin would be served well and serve conservatives well by endorsing one of the conservatives and I think it’s likely she will.


55 posted on 01/12/2012 12:44:08 PM PST by rbmillerjr (Conservative Economic and National Security Commentary: econus.blogspot.com)
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To: freespirited

“Insider Advantage is near the bottom of the list in Nate Silver’s study of pollster accuracy.”

They nailed Iowa.

Southerners just aren’t going to be keen on Santorum,,,he’s a union yankee who wears a preppy sweater vest and comes off as a whiner.

...no tough enough to take on Mittens.


56 posted on 01/12/2012 12:47:07 PM PST by rbmillerjr (Conservative Economic and National Security Commentary: econus.blogspot.com)
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To: bereanway
“It may not be helping Perry but there’s no doubt in my mind this is harming Romney greatly in SC.”

I notice the conservatives are not attacking each other. They are focusing on Obama and Romney. I think Perry and Santorum will actually help Newt win. Perry's refusal to back down helps Newt and Santorum.

Social Conservatives who can't get over Newt's infidelity are probably going to Santorum, but they might have gone to Romney if Santorum wasn't still in.

If Newt wins this state he'll get even more funds to help him fight in Florida. Newt and Perry are the ones with the organization and money right now to be able to continue the fight. It ain't over yet. The 10 days from N. Hampshire to this primary are very important.

57 posted on 01/12/2012 12:48:00 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: rbmillerjr

I remember what was posted yesterday. Some little old lady said (talking about Romney I think). Bless his little heart, he just doesn’t know how to campaign in the South.(words to that effect)LOL


58 posted on 01/12/2012 12:55:23 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: rbmillerjr

You know, Sarah also said that she was going to be campaigning for whoever the Republican nominee is. I think she it could also be that she just doesn’t want to have to endorse someone now, and have to do an about face later.


59 posted on 01/12/2012 12:58:30 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes

Well, Palin knows what Romney is and yes, she will support himif he wins...but if she wants to keep her teaparty/populist clout, it would be a good idea to endorse now, before it is over.

...and I think she will.


60 posted on 01/12/2012 1:04:11 PM PST by rbmillerjr (Conservative Economic and National Security Commentary: econus.blogspot.com)
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